Abdominal fat / weight-management evidence
AOD-9604 vs Tesamorelin
AOD-9604's largest identified human obesity trial was negative, whereas tesamorelin has strong indication-specific VAT evidence in HIV-associated.
At a glance
AOD-9604
Tesamorelin
Human evidence
AOD-9604 underwent an oral obesity development programme. FDA's 2024 evidence review describes a 502-person randomized 24-week OPTIONS trial that found no statistically significant weight-loss difference versus placebo; an earlier 300-person dose-ranging study produced only small differences of unclear clinical importance.
Tesamorelin has strong evidence for its narrow HIV-associated abdominal-fat indication. A randomized HIV/NAFLD study also reduced liver fat substantially, while a small 2025 Phase II cognitive trial did not show significant between-group cognitive benefit.
Research focus
Obesity/body-composition research
Excess abdominal visceral fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy
Regulatory status
Not FDA-approved; FDA has raised compounding safety concerns.
FDA-licensed Egrifta formulations are indicated to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy; not a general weight-loss approval.
Route / formulation
Research findings depend on verified AOD-9604 identity and route.
Research-market tesamorelin is not automatically equivalent to authorised Egrifta products.
No meaningful head-to-head trial AOD-9604's largest identified human obesity trial was negative, whereas tesamorelin has strong indication-specific VAT evidence in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. They should not be treated as equivalent 'fat-loss peptides'.